Going from the setting of rural Lancashire to the inner city of London was a shock for preaching! My first preaching appointment in London was at a Church very very close to the Emmirates (Arsenal’s ground!) it was a half past eleven service and Arsenal were playing Sunderland at twelve o’clock. As I began my sermon so did the football match, I found myself competing with the crowd, and I could tell you when the goals went in! This was a very different setting to Lancashire, I found it a bit distracting I must say!
Reflecting back- this setting is the back drop to all Christian preaching and speaking today- a busy noisy world! The challenge is to make the Gospel heard in a relevant way and in a way that can be heard.
Since then I have preached several times- most recently I preached an evening service at Hinde Street- technology permitting the sermon may soon be heard on the Churches pod cast. Preaching and leading worship is very different in London- the congregation make up is drastically different,its amazing how people drift in throughout services! It means progression in worship is hard to create! One of my experiences has been that rather than being in the majority I am sometimes in the minority- makes me stop and think about cultural relevance and how we seek to be inclusive and culturally relevant.
Sunday, 23 December 2007
A full update!
My work in London is varied, this term I have done 2 days volunteering at the day centre see information at: http://www.wlm.org.uk/wldcent.htm I also work as a Free Church representative as a Hospital chaplain 1 day per week, I also help out with a women’s drop in group hosted at Kings Cross. As well as some of the other usual tasks of a presbyter- meetings, leading worship and preaching. When I write this down it doesn't seem that I do that much- part of my time in London is theological reflection. There have been many challenges which I will share later- they will be quite lengthy!
http://www.wlm.org.uk/documents/Report07_001.pdf
The circuit has recently had its annual review so much of the work I am involved in can be seen! The observant among you may even find a couple of pictures of me!
I am also fortunate to have the opportunity to go to the Guy Chester Centre each month to share with other students training for ministry. This is highly valuable, the friends I have made there are great and there is usually a lot of laughter! The Friday's we spend doing a variety of things. Friday mornings begin with Morning Prayer, coffee and biscuits! Then we continue working through a pastoral care course- this helps us in developing our pastoral skills but also to help in caring for one another. Friday afternoons are spent theologically reflecting together- different members of the group share something of their work/life and then together we reflect. Recently one of the group led us in a Boys Brigade session! This was great fun- making paper aeroplanes, figure marching, team games! It was a fun session- some of the group acted just like Boys! We then have a psychology kind of person come in and look at scenarios in ministry and placement. She leads us in reflecting and looking especially at the deeper things and unconscious at work!
After our evening meal we then have a time of "Cell Church", this follows through a series on "Our Calling" of the Methodist Church. (http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=11)
After this we follow in good Methodist tradition and retire to a pub in Muswell Hill.
Its then back to GCC for Hot Chocolate, people begin to retire to their beds- although some of us sit talking till the early hours. Saturday is an early start for breakfast, some more people arrive- the Saturday incorporates EDEV (extending discipleship, exploring vocation) people. The day is a “QUIET” day, but with some of us around- quiet is fun! We are led in a variety of different ways to pray and are following- Margaret Silf’s book Wayfaring. The book I would recommend to people strongly- I have found it renewing and find GCC as a whole a place of nourishment. It’s good to be able to share with others, feeling a sense of isolation and considering ministry and discerning ministry. I am the only pre-ordination training student- discerning ministry for me is discerning the type of Presbyteral I feel I am called to and where my gifts and weaknesses lie. Any body offered the opportunity to go to Guy Chester centre- take it! The centre runs a variety of quiet days and courses: See the website for more details!
http://www.wlm.org.uk/documents/Report07_001.pdf
The circuit has recently had its annual review so much of the work I am involved in can be seen! The observant among you may even find a couple of pictures of me!
I am also fortunate to have the opportunity to go to the Guy Chester Centre each month to share with other students training for ministry. This is highly valuable, the friends I have made there are great and there is usually a lot of laughter! The Friday's we spend doing a variety of things. Friday mornings begin with Morning Prayer, coffee and biscuits! Then we continue working through a pastoral care course- this helps us in developing our pastoral skills but also to help in caring for one another. Friday afternoons are spent theologically reflecting together- different members of the group share something of their work/life and then together we reflect. Recently one of the group led us in a Boys Brigade session! This was great fun- making paper aeroplanes, figure marching, team games! It was a fun session- some of the group acted just like Boys! We then have a psychology kind of person come in and look at scenarios in ministry and placement. She leads us in reflecting and looking especially at the deeper things and unconscious at work!
After our evening meal we then have a time of "Cell Church", this follows through a series on "Our Calling" of the Methodist Church. (http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=11)
After this we follow in good Methodist tradition and retire to a pub in Muswell Hill.
Its then back to GCC for Hot Chocolate, people begin to retire to their beds- although some of us sit talking till the early hours. Saturday is an early start for breakfast, some more people arrive- the Saturday incorporates EDEV (extending discipleship, exploring vocation) people. The day is a “QUIET” day, but with some of us around- quiet is fun! We are led in a variety of different ways to pray and are following- Margaret Silf’s book Wayfaring. The book I would recommend to people strongly- I have found it renewing and find GCC as a whole a place of nourishment. It’s good to be able to share with others, feeling a sense of isolation and considering ministry and discerning ministry. I am the only pre-ordination training student- discerning ministry for me is discerning the type of Presbyteral I feel I am called to and where my gifts and weaknesses lie. Any body offered the opportunity to go to Guy Chester centre- take it! The centre runs a variety of quiet days and courses: See the website for more details!
Home for Christmas!
So finally I am home for Christmas! Its been a long and busy term, but have finally written an update!
To those who read: May you have a happy Christmas and good new year!
I am in Cambridge for the first week of 2 for festive holidays and am then heading north to Lancaster for my second week! Am very excited to see friends and catch up! I miss Lancaster!
To those who read: May you have a happy Christmas and good new year!
I am in Cambridge for the first week of 2 for festive holidays and am then heading north to Lancaster for my second week! Am very excited to see friends and catch up! I miss Lancaster!
Friday, 9 November 2007
Long time no blogging....
whoops, I haven't blogged for a very very long time! so now lots to catch up on!
Monday, 3 September 2007
Preparing for London
A long time without blogging again!
Much has gone on over the summer, family things, visiting friends, weddings and trying to sort everything out for London.
I have seen alot of some of my Lancaster friends- Jenny and Matt (Jenny was my house-mate for 2 years) got married 10 days ago in Loughborough! It was a lovely couple of days, with dutch blitz and time with friends. The wedding service was one of the best I have been to, it reflected very much who Jenny and Matt are and had tears and laughter!
Last week I then went to visit London, to visit University College Hospital. If all works out then part of my placement will be being a Hospital Chaplain for a day a week. This looks to be good, part of an ecumenical team. I had the opportunity 15 months ago to be part of a Pastoral Care team in a hospital for 4 weeks. This was an interesting experience, some of the time I felt a bit isolated. The meeting I had, was positive and very much pointing to me being supervised, giving me people to reflect with as well as be responsible too. Part of the conversation involved some discussion of wearing a clerical collar. In the Methodist Church, Student Ministers are able to wear collars when on pastoral placement. It was agreed that for parts of the placement I should wear a collar. I haven't yet worn a collar (other than to try my shirts on!) so I think perhaps I ought to try wearing it. People assure me you get a different response in the collar! So I look forward to begining my trial period of placement in October.
After visiting London I went to Lancaster for 2 days! This was primarily for Adam's (a friend from uni) bon voyage party. It was good to be down by the river for a BBQ at Kirby Lonsdale. I was able to catch up with 1 or 2 friends in Lancaster, sadly I didn't have time to see everyone. It was good to share a meal with The Charman family (Steve was my chaplain, Jennie the Junior Church superintendent and their Children were in the Junior Church class where I taught). It was good to have a chat about some of next year and some pointers for things to think about linked with ministry. It was then back to Cambridge ready for London again on Sunday!
Yesterday (Sunday) was exciting, challenging and probably many other things too! In the morning I worshipped at Kings Cross Methodist Church, it is a small English Speaking congregation with an average attendance of 7, I very much appreciated the service. Whilst the English speaking service is going on, in the next room is a Chinese service in Mandarin. This is a much bigger congregation. In the afternoon there is a further service in Cantonese. Yesterday I attended this as it is thought that I maydo some work with the British Born Chinese Teenagers. I was in the first part of worship and then joined the children and young people in the basement. It was interesting and I don't think I will ever receive Holy Communion in the same way again. We all went into the service to receive Communion at the end, this apart from a few Hallelujah's and Amens, was the part of the service that I could connect with directly. The symbols of bread and wine going across the barriers of language. As I received it, I was led to think about the boundaries that celebrating communion crosses. One's of time, race, language, culture and so on. An interesting experience, which I am sure is sparking off new thoughts and questions!
Any way, enough for tonight and I will blogg again soon, It's only 11 days till I move to London, at the minute I feel excited. I have felt a little apprehensive but I know that London is where I am being sent! Whilst I was in London yesterday I felt a deep sense of peace, of contentment with God that London is the right place at the minute! Which is no doubt why the Methodist Church are sending me! I think the transition could be a bit hard, but already I have been welcomed in London by the People. I remember preparing to go to Lancaster, fearing I wouldn't be able to cope. When I get the same feeling now, I look back and see God's faithfulness and strength to me there, and am certain that God will continue to do the same as I move to London.
Prayers would be appreciated though!
Much has gone on over the summer, family things, visiting friends, weddings and trying to sort everything out for London.
I have seen alot of some of my Lancaster friends- Jenny and Matt (Jenny was my house-mate for 2 years) got married 10 days ago in Loughborough! It was a lovely couple of days, with dutch blitz and time with friends. The wedding service was one of the best I have been to, it reflected very much who Jenny and Matt are and had tears and laughter!
Last week I then went to visit London, to visit University College Hospital. If all works out then part of my placement will be being a Hospital Chaplain for a day a week. This looks to be good, part of an ecumenical team. I had the opportunity 15 months ago to be part of a Pastoral Care team in a hospital for 4 weeks. This was an interesting experience, some of the time I felt a bit isolated. The meeting I had, was positive and very much pointing to me being supervised, giving me people to reflect with as well as be responsible too. Part of the conversation involved some discussion of wearing a clerical collar. In the Methodist Church, Student Ministers are able to wear collars when on pastoral placement. It was agreed that for parts of the placement I should wear a collar. I haven't yet worn a collar (other than to try my shirts on!) so I think perhaps I ought to try wearing it. People assure me you get a different response in the collar! So I look forward to begining my trial period of placement in October.
After visiting London I went to Lancaster for 2 days! This was primarily for Adam's (a friend from uni) bon voyage party. It was good to be down by the river for a BBQ at Kirby Lonsdale. I was able to catch up with 1 or 2 friends in Lancaster, sadly I didn't have time to see everyone. It was good to share a meal with The Charman family (Steve was my chaplain, Jennie the Junior Church superintendent and their Children were in the Junior Church class where I taught). It was good to have a chat about some of next year and some pointers for things to think about linked with ministry. It was then back to Cambridge ready for London again on Sunday!
Yesterday (Sunday) was exciting, challenging and probably many other things too! In the morning I worshipped at Kings Cross Methodist Church, it is a small English Speaking congregation with an average attendance of 7, I very much appreciated the service. Whilst the English speaking service is going on, in the next room is a Chinese service in Mandarin. This is a much bigger congregation. In the afternoon there is a further service in Cantonese. Yesterday I attended this as it is thought that I maydo some work with the British Born Chinese Teenagers. I was in the first part of worship and then joined the children and young people in the basement. It was interesting and I don't think I will ever receive Holy Communion in the same way again. We all went into the service to receive Communion at the end, this apart from a few Hallelujah's and Amens, was the part of the service that I could connect with directly. The symbols of bread and wine going across the barriers of language. As I received it, I was led to think about the boundaries that celebrating communion crosses. One's of time, race, language, culture and so on. An interesting experience, which I am sure is sparking off new thoughts and questions!
Any way, enough for tonight and I will blogg again soon, It's only 11 days till I move to London, at the minute I feel excited. I have felt a little apprehensive but I know that London is where I am being sent! Whilst I was in London yesterday I felt a deep sense of peace, of contentment with God that London is the right place at the minute! Which is no doubt why the Methodist Church are sending me! I think the transition could be a bit hard, but already I have been welcomed in London by the People. I remember preparing to go to Lancaster, fearing I wouldn't be able to cope. When I get the same feeling now, I look back and see God's faithfulness and strength to me there, and am certain that God will continue to do the same as I move to London.
Prayers would be appreciated though!
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
The end of an era in Lancaster
I left Lancaster for the final time a fortnight ago! There were so many goodbyes, when I was at Junior School I remember a child writing a song about saying Goodbye. The line I remember in particular is "Saying goodbye is never easy, saying goodbye can make you cry". He had written this on the experience of both of his parents being killed in a road accident. The line was going round in my head recently- preparing and having so many goodbyes.
MY first Goodbye was acknowledged in April at one of my placement churches Annual Church Meeting,(at this point I didn't even know what I would be doing next year!). From this point on I seemed to have endless numbers of goodbyes, from every meeting that I have belonged to in Lancaster, worship consultation, leadership teams, circuit meetings etc, I began to be able to predict what was about to be said! The main final goodbyes were the hardest, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of Lancaster Methodist Circuit and Lancaster Methodist Church. On the final Sunday morning that I was in Lancaster, I was presented in worship with numerous gifts which I will treasure. I still have some of the book vouchers to spend. I was then given a send off downstairs with a party to wish me all the best from the younger members of the church. What a privilege it has been to share with so many people from young to old in the church over the year. Lancaster Methodist Church has been a very special place and is the church in which I was accredited in as a local preacher in March.
It was in the week following that I graduated officially. It was a very long ceremony and an early morning start! Although in a sense this was the end of my ST Martin's phase, it wasn't goodbye! I have seen many of my friends since at Jon and Amy's wedding, Jenny's hen weekend and will of course see many again at Jenny's wedding. In a sense Goodbye's from St Martin's friends haven't happened! It was good to graduate with so many friends. The photo's of the day are quite amusing! Some of which thank goodness are not on the Internet!
I was then back home for a few days after emptying my house in Lancaster! Already previously 3 car loads of stuff had come home and we packed 2 cars full to bring the remainder! I have an awful lot of stuff!
I was then back in the North West for the weekend for Jenny's hen weekend in Kendal, and then the final farewell- at Hedley's retirement and farewell service. Hedley has been my placement supervisor this year. At the end of worship there were numerous presentations made, I was very humbled to receive a framed picture of the Sunset across Morecambe Bay with Ashton Memorial in. I was speechless! What a change there, but I found goodbyes very hard here, although not as bad as I thought. The picture now hangs in the living room for now! It will remain there until I eventually have my own manse!
So lots of Goodbyes, but lots of memories to be thankful for. I hope that I will return to Lancaster in the not too distant future! However I must also get used to moving on and begin to look to London for the next phase of my journey!
I loved Lancaster and have made many friends there! I shall miss Lancaster muchly!
Longtime no blogging!
The last few weeks have been manic! I have travelled nearly 2000 miles in the last 4 weeks which has meant that I haven't really been in one place for very long! I have had graduation, I don't know how many goodbyes, a hen weekend, a wedding, a holiday and so on! So I am going to try and blog more often now I am in one place for a while!
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